Historic night as Ice Blacks win back-to-back hockey titles

Piggybacking on their game one success, the New Zealand Ice
Blacks have captured the Trans-Tasman Challenge Cup
presented by Queenstown Resort College with their 5-3
victory over the Australia Mighty Roos.

Australia struck
first, courtesy of an early loose-puck goal swept into the
net by Patrick Nadin. However, the Ice Blacks weren't down
for long, as the dynamic top line duo of Liam Stewart and
Matt Schneider combined for a gorgeous tying goal shortly
thereafter. New Zealand goaltender Csaba Kercso Magos left a
few juicy rebounds lingering in the crease, and finally
Australia were able to poke another over the goal line as
Jonathan Bremner batted a quick goal in after a series of
attempts.

The Roos were dominant for the remainder of the
period, but all that possession time was for nothing as the
final goal of the period was scored by the Ice Blacks. Debut
Ice Black Ondrej Kozak drifted into the offensive zone and
patiently outwaited both his defender and goalkeeper Charlie
Smart to dish the puck to Ben Gavoille. The horn blew with
the score knotted up 2-2.

The second frame started with an
early power play for Australia, and high-scoring skater
Wahebe Darge combined with Kai Miettinen for the go-ahead
goal, sending the Roos up 3-2. New Zealand leapt on the
opportunity to tie things up on the power play however, with
Matt Schneider scoring his second of the game down low on
the man advantage. The Ice Blacks weren't done with their
second-period scoring yet as Kozak and Gavoille combined for
their second goal of the game, a beauty of a top-shelf goal
that's certainly going to make the rounds on the highlight
reels.

The third period was shorter on goals but not on
action, with tempers threatening to simmer over as both
teams threw some big hits. Australia got some power-play
opportunity but weren't able to convert. In fact, the only
goal of the period came courtesy of Liam Stewart, who sailed
into the Roos zone past all four defenders for a beautiful
solo effort goal that put the Ice Blacks up 5-3. Despite the
Roos' continued efforts, by the time the final whistle blew
that remained the score.

This marks the first time New
Zealand have ever won back-to-back hockey titles over their
Australian rivals, and now with one game remaining the Roos
will attempt to avoid the sweep.

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